| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 1When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mobilized the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam. | 1When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered Judah and Benjamin--a hundred and eighty thousand able young men--to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam. |
| 2But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: | 2But this word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God: |
| 3“Tell Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and all the Israelites in Judah and Benjamin | 3"Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, |
| 4that this is what the LORD says: ‘You are not to go up and fight against your brothers. Each of you must return home, for this word is from Me.’ ” So they listened to the words of the LORD and turned back from going against Jeroboam. | 4This is what the LORD says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.'" So they obeyed the words of the LORD and turned back from marching against Jeroboam. |
| 5Rehoboam continued to live in Jerusalem, and he built up cities for defense in Judah. | 5Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah: |
| 6He built up Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, | 6Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, |
| 7Beth-zur, Soco, Adullam, | 7Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam, |
| 8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, | 8Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, |
| 9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, | 9Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, |
| 10Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron, the fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. | 10Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. |
| 11He strengthened their fortresses and put officers in them, with supplies of food, oil, and wine. | 11He strengthened their defenses and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, olive oil and wine. |
| 12He also put shields and spears in all the cities and strengthened them greatly. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him. | 12He put shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his. |
| 13Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam. | 13The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with him. |
| 14For the Levites left their pasturelands and their possessions and went to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD. | 14The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the LORD |
| 15And Jeroboam appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat demons and calf idols he had made. | 15when he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made. |
| 16Those from every tribe of Israel who had set their hearts to seek the LORD their God followed the Levites to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the LORD, the God of their fathers. | 16Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the LORD, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the LORD, the God of their ancestors. |
| 17So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon for three years, because they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon. | 17They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, following the ways of David and Solomon during this time. |
| 18And Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab. | 18Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David's son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse's son Eliab. |
| 19She bore sons to him: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham. | 19She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham. |
| 20After her, he married Maacah daughter of Absalom, and she bore to him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. | 20Then he married Maakah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. |
| 21Rehoboam loved Maacah daughter of Absalom more than all his wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and he was the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. | 21Rehoboam loved Maakah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. |
| 22Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maacah as chief prince among his brothers, intending to make him king. | 22Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maakah as crown prince among his brothers, in order to make him king. |
| 23Rehoboam also acted wisely by dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and sought many wives for them. | 23He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and took many wives for them. |
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